NORRISTOWN — A Lower Pottsgrove woman’s “deceit” in obtaining public assistance housing benefits has ended with her guilty plea to a theft-related charge.

Tracey Warren, 47, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to a felony charge of theft by deception or false impression in connection with incidents that occurred while she lived in the 2100 block of Buchert Road between 2000 and 2012.

With the charge, prosecutors alleged Warren received nearly $54,000 in fraudulent housing benefits, administered through the Montgomery County Housing Authority and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The investigation revealed Warren falsified her public housing applications by failing to truthfully report and update her household composition and income.

“In other words, Tracey Warren was deceitful and her deceit came from trying to lower the rent that she would have to pay,” alleged Assistant District Attorney Noah Marlier. “Tracey Warren lied on those forms by not disclosing who was living at the home and not disclosing how much those people made through their employment.”

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Judge Joseph A. Smyth deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigative report about Warren. Warren, who remains free on bail, faces a potential sentence that ranges from probation to several months in jail, under state sentencing guidelines.

“Tracey Warren should have been paying more each month in rent and she did this over the course of years so the amount of money that she owed was in the tens of thousands,” said Marlier, who indicated he will seek “a long period of court supervision” for Warren and full restitution.

Marlier said the crime is serious because such schemes take funds away from those who truly need the financial assistance.

“This is a case where taxpayers are being ripped off. Taxpayers give money that they earn to go to programs to help people who are truly deserving. (Warren) was not truly deserving. She took advantage of the program that was offered to her and so the taxpayers are the victim,” Marlier alleged.

“But also, there’s another victim in this case. There is a line out the door for these kinds of programs, people that are truly deserving, people that make very little money and are struggling…that truly could benefit from programs like this,” Marlier added.

Warren, according to court documents, began receiving housing benefits through HUD in October 2000, certifying that her household consisted of her and four dependents and that she earned no income from outside employment; however, authorities determined Warren added an additional adult’s name to her lease for an apartment in the Rolling Hills development in Lower Pottsgrove but never reported the modification to housing assistance agencies, according to an arrest affidavit.

The investigation revealed that Warren and the undisclosed adult residing with her received unreported wages from various employers throughout the time she was receiving public assistance. In total, authorities alleged, Warren fraudulently received $53,907 in the form of subsidized rental assistance, according to court papers.

Warren was one of three women arrested last year on charges they fraudulently obtained a combined total of nearly $124,000 in public assistance housing benefits.

Megan E. Benson, 41, of the 300 block of Linden Avenue, North Hills, pleaded guilty to a theft-related charge and is also awaiting sentencing.

Benson, according to court papers, began receiving rental assistance from the county housing authority in December 1999 and certified that her household was limited to herself and three children and that they received no income from wages. An investigation revealed Benson’s boyfriend lived with her in the subsidized housing unit from 2009 to 2011 and was earning an income, according to court documents.

At no time did Benson disclose her change in household composition or means of income as she was required to do during annual public housing applications, authorities said. Benson allegedly received $37,813 of ineligible subsidized rental assistance.

A third woman, also of North Hills, is still awaiting court action on similar theft-related charges.

Marlier said the prosecutions send a message to others who might be contemplating similar crimes.

“I think these prosecutions send a message that this deceit will not be tolerated,” Marlier said.

The investigations were conducted by county detectives, HUD and the U.S. Office of the Inspector General.

About the Author

Carl Hessler Jr. writes about crime and justice at the Montgomery County Courthouse for The Mercury and 21st Century Media Newspaper’s Greater Philadelphia area publications. A native of Reading, he studied at Penn State University and Kutztown University before graduating from Alvernia University with a degree in communications. He is a recipient of a National Headliner Award and has been honored for his writing by the Keystone Press Association, Philadelphia Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Associated Press Managing Editors of Pennsylvania. Reach the author at chessler@pottsmerc.com
or follow Carl on Twitter: @MontcoCourtNews.